The past month

I haven't opened up my laptop. I just didn't FEEL like it. For the first couple weeks, I was pretty good at going through my email. Then around the 4th week, I had almost 2,000 to go through. I deleted more than 900 during my first sweep through them. It was a bit more than my iphone could handle, and I did something that REVERSED that process and I got back my junky email. Oh, thank you Apple, because of all other things to mess up, email isn't one of them. grumble grumble.

Because I could only delete somewhere between 50 & 100 at a time, I reluctantly decided to open my laptop and get back to business...because that number is driving me insane. I get over 100 email a day. Thank YOU Google (not-anymore-reader).

But you know what? I'm not stressed about this blog. I don't care if I didn't get around to writing something. I have been using it as a : GO DO this already, pathetic girl.

Something happened mid-month that is horrible beyond belief. It's a very private issue that I haven't talked about on my blog, but it's serious. It has nothing to do with rape, so don't get to worried there. The only person it hurts is me...and maybe the people who really care about me, but in the end, it really just effects me. So now that's been almost a month ago, and last week I started getting hives again. That happened way earlier this year when Spring was trying to emerge as winter was clinging on. I guess the temperamental season changes doesn't help this much. I was SO SICK this past weekend. I even missed my skirt class that I have been dying to attend since this past summer. Like I have $50 to waste. I'm so pissed, and I really hope I get to work out something, that I can take another class at a different time. I fell asleep 5pm Friday and woke up around 4pm on Sunday. I slept through Saturday.

I know I'm depressed. I know that it's a situational depression that really is dependent on how this will play out. I see a Dr at least once a month. She's aware of this and has been prescribing me meds for this for over 3 years.

I know that I've gained a bunch of weight and am HATING it.

I know that I have too many mind-numbing activities going on.

What I can do: I have a treadmill on loan. Right now it came possessed, and I have to figure out how to run/fast walk on a few inclines without going from 2 to 8 incline and from 2 to 9 speed. There is no way in Hell, I can attempt something like that any time soon.  I don't have a goal because I have NEVER worked out before. I figure if I can lose 10 pounds and increase my metabolism, it will be a win-win.

Changes have been made so I have fresh veggies, and sometimes fruit on hand so I can eat that instead of cookies.

I am quitting Coke. This is one of the hardest things I've had to do. It's ALWAYS there. There really isn't an option to get this out of the house.  I'm thinking on ways to do it though.  I drink sweetened tea instead. This is the same sweetened tea that I've drank ALL my life (when I wasn't drinking coke) when I've weighted 90 pounds, so I'm not too worried about cutting EVERYthing down to water and carrot sticks. Tea is good for you.

I need to start journaling. Which is different than blogging. I want to buy a new notebook for this. I also want to start a Fitness journal, where I record what I'm eating and drinking and how much I exercise.  Just to keep track of where something might be going wrong.

I need to start SEWING again. Just because I don't have a backing for a quilt, isn't a good excuse not to put together the top.

I need to start making a real effort to be friends with the friends that I have. I tend to isolate and not keep promises....which makes me go back to feel bad about myself...vicious cycle.

I REALLY hope that I can take a different class. I didn't feel right about going in with a super high fever and fever spots/hives. I guess we will see tomorrow. If not, I'll just act like I donated to a good cause. Because I like that spot and I don't want to get bitter over it. It's not worth it.

I have good things going for me, if I work for them. I also need to find something new to read. I love to read about ANYthing I find interesting.  From the non-fiction, biographies, sewing books sections to just about anything from Stephen King to David Sedaris in fiction.

I think anything good to battle the anxiety and depression that I'm having is good for me. The only thing I can do is pray and wait for a (hopefully good) answer.

nectresse

Influenster sent me a 40 packet box of nectresse to try from my Sugar 'n Spice VoxBox.  Nectresse is a 100% natural no calorie sweetener made from monk fruit, that is about 150X sweeter than sugar!  Each orange packet is equivalent to 2 teaspoons of sugar. Nectresse also comes in a 140 serving canister so you can use it in the recipes that call for sugar.  I love that I got the packets, so I can take them with me.  I love that it comes in a canister, so you can use as much or little as you want.  The nectresse website is awesome.  It contains information about nectresse, which is made by the same maker as Splenda, has coupons, shares recipes, provides a free sample, information for health care professionals and videos.

I used my nectresse packet in my coffee and in my tea.  I found that I needed less packets because one packet is sweet enough.  It has a taste similar to sugar, but it is a little different.  It is noticeable at first, but after awhile you barely notice.  It has a little aftertaste, but it goes away once you get used to the taste.

You can buy nectresse at any drug or grocery store.  The website even provides a store locator.  The box of 40 packets costs around $3 and the canister is almost $6, which is what I would expect to pay for sugar substitutes.  I usually use Splenda or Equal.  I like that nectresse is 100% natural, and I think that's worth getting used to the taste.  I love sweet things, but I don't like consuming the calories.  I would definitely recommend this product for diabetics who can't have sugar, and for anyone that uses a sugar substitute or thinking about trying a sugar substitute.  Go check out their website to get your free sample today!  If you want an invite to Influenster, let me know and I'll send you an email.  For other reviews of this product, you can check them out on Influenster's review page of this product.

I received this product complimentary from Influenster

A new month!

Spring always makes me more happy!!!  I have a lot to do!  I'm starting my 30 Days of Blog Prompts.  My first day was posted back in March, but I will be starting Day 2 tomorrow.  If you want to see the list, or join me, check out The List.

Last summer, a ton of people participated in a blog hop that featured projects out of the Zakka Style book.  Zakka is a Japanese term that means "many things" and it's about the little things that improve your home and space.  The book had 24 projects, and different bloggers presented a tutorial.  THIS year, a new book called Zakka 2.0: Patchwork Please!, written by Ayumi Takahashi, was just released, and Ayumi and 19 of her blogging friends will be doing another round of Zakka.  I'm excited because I just started the blogging world last summer, and I remember all the cute projects everyone was doing!  This year I will be participating! YAY!  If you want to check out what kind of projects Ayumi makes, her blog is called Pink Penguin.  You can check out the details at Lindsey's blog:  LR Stitched.  The book is set to ship April 9th, although Amazon says you can get it by Wednesday.  The book retails for $22, but is going for $14.20 at Amazon right now.  I'm really excited, because this is the stuff I want to do!

I'm really excited YAY!!!

Some other stuff I'll be working on, is my Influenster products, so bear with me ;)  I know seeing the same thing in Blog World can be boring.  I hope everyone had a great holiday weekend and an awesome April Fool's Day.  Anything I think would be really funny, would be really inappropriate, so I'll be staying out of the festivities this year.

One more thing!  I just found out about a blog hop that started today, that gives you ideas and along with tutorials to keep your workspace nice, neat and pretty!  Heidi from Fabric Mutt put it together and it starts today!  Here's the list if you want to check it out and follow along:

If you want to follow along, the Girl Friday blog hop schedule is here:

Mon., April 1 — Heidi Staples @ Fabric Mutt
Tue., April 2 — Kristy @ Quiet Play
Wed., April 3 — Becca Bryan @ Bryan House Quilts
Thur., April 4 — Amanda Woodruff @ A Crafty Fox (You are here!)
Fri., April 5 — Lee Heinrich @ Freshly Pieced
Mon., April 8 — Svetlana Sotak @ SOTAK Handmade
Tue., April 9 — Beth @ Plum and June
Wed., April 10 — Taryn @ From Pixels to Patchwork
Thur., April 11 — Lori Hartman @ Lori H. Designs
Fri., April 12 — Leanne @ She Can Quilt
Mon., April 15 — Blog Hop Recap at Fabric Mutt

  

I just checked out her tutorial and it gives me a lot of ideas!

My APRIL GOALS are:

1.  Blog Prompts

2.  Finish Influenster Sugar 'n Spice VoxBox

3.  Finish (late) baby quilt

4.  Finish 3 books: 

• Dr Phil's Life Code-Almost Done
• Jennifer Weiner-Fly Away Home
• Jodi Picoult-The Storyteller

5.  Clean my car and craft area

6.  Start a new project for May

7.  Use more pictures in my blog posts

8.  LOSE WEIGHT.-Post coming in future...

I think these are obtainable!

FOR FUN.  This is my Best Friend who works at a certain restaurant in Ann Arbor, and in January THAT GUY came in and got his picture taken with Dogg.  I didn't believe him because he tells me ridiculous stories that NO ONE should believe, but he gets me 75% of the time.  Another thing about this pic, is that he has lost SO MUCH weight in 3 months.  I resemble a stump that can't lose weight.  But I'm gonna do it!  I'm almost 120, and I can be happy at 109.  I used to weight 103, so I think it's a good middle point to aim for.  I'm 5 feet, so don't judge my numbers.  If we did proportions my 10 pounds equal 25 pounds on you!!

 My body decided to not work with me when it hit 30.  You hear the Horror Stories, but you don't think it will happen to you.  you think, whatever, I got this.  BUT YOU DON'T.  I was in a major denial, and then I hit 30.  Whatever genes make it hard to lose weight, also crave chocolate in a major way.

This is not the only thing the Easter Bunny brought me :/  My Easter requests after 30 years of yucky jelly beans and groddoid (Growd-oid) fake chocolate bunnies and coins were finally replaced with Reese's PB Eggs and a carrot full of Reese's Pieces, and mixed mini Hershey bars and a DoZen mini Cadberry 

Can YOU resist these?!!